On Resistance

Erickson BethAugust 13, 2015August 13, 2015Comments Off on On Resistance

~~~ Notes from Minnesota ~~~

Hey Freelancer!

Okey Dokey. We’re ready to roll over here.

Here’s what’s going on at Filbert Publishing. I’ve been quiet these past few months… at least online.

However behind the scenes things are popping.

Every one of my books is getting polished and (most importantly) updated. Better yet? Four of the manuscripts (out of ten) are complete, and are available everywhere. Next up, the hard copies.

However, what’s even better is that the intro prices are incredible.

For example, our classic “Jumpstart Your Writing Career and Snag Paying Assignments” is updated, expanded, ready to roll and has a great intro price of 2.99. Look for a bunch of other titles to follow this same path.

Since the cancer, I’ve developed an annoying personality quirk. Hopefully I can explain it adequately… perhaps you experience something similar.

Here’s the deal:

Before the cancer, back when I was healthy, happy, and daring, I’d get an idea, run with it, go after it whole hog, then let the chips fall where they may. Writing was an adventure. Marketing was fun. I’d read about an idea, immediately give it a shot, note the results.

Not anymore.

Now I feel like I have an invisible leash attached to my soul. If I research a new… say… marketing technique, rather than run to try it out, I think about it. I ponder any potential consequences. I count the costs.

Suddenly, everything matters. A lot.

Where pre-cancer life as an adventurous game, post cancer life feels different, a bit more precious. Since the Big C, I utterly resist hopping into the herd and racing towards an imaginary finish line. I don’t want to chase dollars, I want to make a difference.

Writing projects I would have jumped into with unbridled gusto, I now abhor if they pull me away from my self-assigned tasks.

I’m not sure I like this new me. I think too much. Sometimes I get weepy. More and more, I find myself wandering towards my roots: the reason I entered this crazy profession.

I’m a writer. I’m a weaver of stories. I adore helping other writers find their voice.

Near as I can tell, since the cancer and my decision to chuck every project that doesn’t somehow fit into my obtuse definition of what I want my writing career to be, that inner resistance has sometimes become oppressive.

In “Advice to Freelance Writers,” I talk a lot about how each writer has their own, personal “Polaris.” You can use this ultimate goal/guiding star to navigate your career. This new resistance is like Polaris on steroids.

But it’s the road I love. It’s the road I live. It’s the road I prefer.

I may sound snooty. Perhaps I am. But I’ve read that cancer is the “pit bull of diseases.” Today, my scans are clean, but often, in the end, cancer generally wins. And if I have a limited amount of time to write, I’m want to make it count.

This brings me to you:

You’ve subscribed to Writing Etc. I’m glad you’re here.

However, I’m not going to promise that freelancing is a walk in the park. It’s not. Easy? No. The adventure of a lifetime? Yeah.

Today, what I want you to do… right now… is to ponder why you write. Jot down your reasons. Then take note of when you experience resistance.

As for me, I’m working through it, zeroing in on the tasks I feel will benefit you while feeding my soul the most. I’ve got some great articles in the queue. I’ve been quiet too long and finally have something I feel is valuable enough to say.

I look forward to an interesting post-cancer adventure. Keep your eye out for some fun articles this month.

Fasten your seat belt. Mama’s back. 🙂

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Enjoy!

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